It's such a time of renewal. I feel it every year. I know everyone
says "New Year Resolution Time" is when to start a new diet,
but I can't think of a better time than the peaceful renewing
time of Spring for reinvention of self.

And to all of you who've had a bit of a slip, just remember
Robert Orben's quote,
"Spring is God's way of saying, 'One more time!'"

And now... on with the newsletter!

"Our Yesterday is their Today..."

The game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts,
deeds, and words return to us sooner or later, with
astounding accuracy.

Have you ever happened upon two amazingly skinny people
standing around discussing "fat people"? There was a time when
bumping into such a conversation meant they'd suddenly go
silent and I'd hear nothing more than what I happened to catch
before I was noticed. I expect that's because I was a fat
person. My mere presence hushed 'em right up. But of course
you know the minute I left, the discussion began again — with
a comment or two about me thrown in.

Last week, for the first time since being "formerly fat", I ran
across such a discussion. Guess what? They felt no need to quiet
their mutterings. So I remained a discreet distance and listened.
Yep, I eavesdropped.

The first thing I noticed was that as each of them spoke, they
held in their hands a 20-oz bottle of Coke, an 11-oz can of
Slim-Fast, and a 20-oz bottle of Mountain Dew respectively. And
for your clarification, we're talking about 2 females - very early
20's and 1 male – perhaps 19.

I heard words like "gross", "undisciplined", "lazy"... You know...
the usual. Yes, I stood there transfixed. Why I didn't just
shake my head and walk away, I'm not sure. I expect I was hoping
to gain a little insight. I think I did, but I'm not sure I'm the
better for it.

The young man, I find out, works at a 24-hour grocery store.
He begins by complaining that "...these tubbies come in and
expect to use our wheelchairs to shop. Don't they know they're
for HANDICAPPED people and not for a bunch of slobs who won't
look in the mirror and see they just need to stop eating?!"

"Just need to stop eating..." His words ring in my ears. I'm
sure I've heard those words before. As I glance up, his head is
tilted back and he's downing the last of his Mt. Dew.

The girls giggle in agreement. One comments, "All they have to
do is NOT put all that FAT in their mouths. Have they ever heard
of a diet? And they feel sorry for themselves. Why should they?
No one else does!"

I feel a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as I see before
me the attitude that keeps the Slim-Fast's cash registers
Cha-Chinging. Blame the dieter. If you don't have success with
our plan, it's because YOU have no discipline. It's because YOU
don't care. I begin to see the "big picture" through that small
3-person window.

Their giggles and smirks fade off as they walk away, leaving their
plastic 'empties' for someone else to take care of. My only
satisfaction is knowing they'll know the truth soon enough. Their
small bodies can only handle the onslaught of sugar so long.
They feel free to guzzle because of course, that Coke is "fat free".
Their teeth are rotting, their immune system is crashing, their
insulin receptors are working triple-time. But it's all in
slow-motion. All they see at real-speed is that they're not fat.
And of course they attribute this to THEIR discipline and knowledge
about staying fat-free. All the while they feed their addiction.
And it won't be long before this Generation X is replaced by
Generation XL.

Yes, the fat-free diet industry has done its job well. Let's look
at what their goals would HAVE to be in order to remain viable:

1) They have to appear to care about your health and your appearance.

CHECK

2) They have to cost enough to make them a fortune, but keep it just
small enough that most Americans can find a way to pay for it.
(To give you an idea of where Slim-Fast stands in the market, a
year ago Unilever purchased Slim-Fast for $2.3 billion in cash.
Slim-Fast holds 45 percent of the $1.3 billion nutritional
supplement and weight-management market in the U.S. In the year
ended November 1999, Slim-Fast had net sales of $611 million and
operating profits of $125 million. No numbers for year 2000 are
as yet available, but we understand they've grown considerably.)
CHECK

3) They have to work at least a little — short term to prove
they're "the way".
CHECK

4) They have to ultimately fail. If they succeeded long-term,
they'd lose their customer base. It's important each consumer
try over and over again.
CHECK

5) They have to make it appear the failure was YOURS. You saw they
worked at first. If the success stopped, it must have been YOUR
lack of discipline and willpower.
CHECK

6) They HAVE to contain plenty of sugar. Without it, the addiction
does not continue. You must remain addicted to that which causes
cravings and hunger. Without the cravings you might succeed.
Without the constant hunger you might succeed. Your failure is
necessary for these products to sell. A Slim-Fast shake contains
38 grams of carbs — 27 grams of which are SUGAR — The first 2
ingredients of Slim-Fast are Sugar, then Fructose. An Ultra
Slim-Fast contains 40 grams of carbs — 35 grams of which are
SUGAR!! A Nestle Sweet Success contains 49 grams of carbs —
17 grams of which are SUGAR. Interested in their "bars"? You
might want to note that the Slim-Fast bars contain as many as
EIGHT different kinds of sugar — Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn
Syrup, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Honey, and
High Maltose Corn Syrup. And while they're at it, they throw in
trans-fats (partially hydrogenated oils) for good measure. Thank
GOODNESS they care about our health.
CHECK
Okay, so back to those Cokes and Mt. Dews (and all the rest) that seem
to try to represent themselves as health and vitality (Ever see a FAT
person in one of their ads? Ever see an overweight kid surfing through
the air on a Mt. Dew rush? Ever see that little Pepsi girl's teeth?)

If we are what we eat, then Coca-Cola hints at what we've become.

Three decades ago, a Coke came in that shapely 6.5-ounce bottle and
held less than 100 sugary calories. Now, the taller, plumper contour
weighs in at 20 ounces and delivers 250 calories and 65 GRAMS OF
SUGAR. Or, for the especially parched, there's the 64-ounce Double
Gulp from 7-Eleven delivering a whopping 208 GRAMS OF SUGAR.
Depending on one's preference for ice, it is a tub of 700 to 800
calories.

Cokes have expanded. So have the people who love them. In America's
young people, as much as 25% of their daily calories are now coming
from pure sugar. And obesity rates are skyrocketing. All the while,
those whose figures have not yet made the "plump" continue to prop
up the machinery with their 'disgust' of the fat. Amid the
financial and health costs are the psychological costs borne by
overweight members of a society obsessed with the slender bodies
peering out from magazine covers. And they believe the only
difference between them and the models is willpower.

I get letters each week from low-carbers who have a more difficult
time because their home remains filled with 'junk'. They tell me
they have to keep the sugar in the house for "the kids" who need the
extra energy. I implore you to stop and think about this long and
hard. Here's a sobering fact to mull over a bit... excuse my
harshness:

Sales of oversized coffins at the nation's largest casket company are
up 20 percent in the last five years; the biggest jump was last year.
Don't wake up to find one of them contains your child.

Introducing KETO PIZZA DOUGH!

Now you can enjoy low carb pizza with a delicious, golden-crispy
crust! Prepared with 1/2 cup of your favorite sauce, and one
8 oz. package of shredded mozzerella cheese, Keto Pizza contains:

A healthy and delicious tasting alternative to high carb cow
or soy milk.

Just 1 g carb plus 8 g of energizing protein per serving!

Creamy whole milk taste and texture!

Much easier to digest than cow's milk, contains 90% less lactose.

Same calcium-rich, vitamin/mineral profile as cow's milk.

Enjoy Keto Milk on cereals, in coffee, in recipes or anywhere
you would normally use milk. Enjoy Keto Milk as a refreshing
treat. Great for adults or children. Original or new chocolate
flavors!

Call Life Services at 1-800-542-3230 or purchase on our web
site. For a Keto store near you, visit
our new web site
www.ketofoods.com and use
our store locator feature. Enter you zip code for a listing of stores within
25 miles of your home and a road map pinpointing store location.

Interview With a Doughnut

By Contributing Editor, Andrea K. Rogers

"You know, being a doughnut isn't as easy as it may look!
I've got to look my best everyday, and I have to be the best
tasting thing you've ever met," some sprinkles fall off the
doughnut as he coughs up some sugary jelly. The mass of
dough and sugar speaks roughly with a slight Brooklyn
accent, his gargantuan body trembles, almost as if it's
about to burst.

I steady myself, constantly trying to keep my gorge down,
trying not to betray my true identity — a low-carber. I
look at him squarely, his chocolate eyes peering into my
soul, but I proceed with the questioning.

"Mr. Doughnut, why do you consider yourself a favorite within
your class of sugary sweets?"

The mass of horrific fried sugar and flour laughs, my
stomach turns at the sight. He settles himself, picking
up a few stray sprinkles and stuffing them into his mouth.
He looks back at me, his eyes glazed with sugary venom.

"Why Mrs. Rogers, I am the most sinful of them all. No
human can resist me. They all know that I am the worst
thing they can put into their mouths, but they all reach
out to me, time and time again. I am a sinful, sweet,
and supreme little temptation."

He glares back at me, the corners of his smile drooling
and oozing with jelly.

"You're proud to bring people to heart disease and obesity?
You like causing people pain?"

I am outraged at the thought of this thing intentionally
causing so many people the pain of sugar addiction and the
resulting health problems. I take a deep breath, steadying
myself for his answer.

"Of course I am! But it's their choice, Mrs. Rogers. Like
I said, all I do is look my best and keep my sweet reputation
consistent. It's the people who buy me and eat me that are
to blame! I am what I am, and I'm proud of it!"

The doughnut wipes a powdered sugar mustache off his face and
looks at me point-blank, awaiting another question.

"Buy why?! Why do they love you so? Even the low-fat
dieters eat you and you're high in fat! What is it about
you, Mr. Doughnut, what compels us to you?" I asked him
desperately, trying to find the reason for his power over
people.

"Because I'm addictive. I'm like that cigarette some
people reach for, the cup of coffee they have in the morning;
I'm there waiting. I taste good, over and over again. When
I'm digested in your stomach, my particles invade your blood
stream, causing your body to go on full alert. Over time,
I change your chemistry so much, your body will slowly
weaken, and I will command you. Your moods will continue
to change; your body will change, all because of me.
But you reach for me time and time again because I'm more
addictive than nicotine; I'm more addictive than caffeine.
I am sugar; mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters,
grandparents and in-laws encourage me, devour me, love me.
I am the sweet death that lives in every welcoming bowl of
M&M's or can of sugar-sweetened soda. All love me, and all
who cook and eat worship me. My power is absolute. Large
corporations support and lobby for me, the general populace
know nothing of my plans for world domination. I am the
worst thing to happen to man; I am the sneakiest,
stealthiest, and most evil of all evils. I am in your home
right now, waiting for your children to reach out for me,
taking years off their lives, and you thank me for it!
Ha! You fools! I am a temporary distraction to them, I
make them happy, but if you only knew! Ha! They don't know
what's comin' to them."

I sat there, my mind and body in shock. His smile filled his
whole front side. His eyes glared at me with a maddened
determination. The room began filling with a sugary smoke,
maybe from the powdered sugar. I felt like I was going to
choke on it. But my eyes suddenly lit up and I straightened
myself, ready to beat this beast down. It was time to throw
away my guise!

"What about the low-carbers Mr. Doughnut? We don't succumb to
you! We don't worship you! What about the low-carbers?!"

His face filled with surprise, but he quickly recovered his
composure.

"Oh, you people. You don't worry me too much. So what? A few
people are following a stupid fad diet, loosing weight and feeling
better than they ever have. It won't last. You'll fall off. The
temptation is everywhere! I'm in the stores, I'm on the TV, and
people worship me everywhere. You low-carbers will feel the
pressure from your families, from your friends. You've ostracized
yourselves from society. It won't be long until you follow the rest
of the herd, the human race that is. It'll be temporary, my power
over people is too strong, and I will win this war. Besides, it's
such a pain to cook your own food. I'm cheap and easy, you don't
even have to think! You press a button the microwave and "poof",
you have a meal in five minutes! Nah, this low-carb fad will be
here today and gone tomorrow."

I heard the fear in his voice; his mass was fidgety and it was
trembling slightly. Sprinkles were falling off like little sugar
bombs. Righteous justice was all I felt. After years of killing
people, this monster was uncovered for what he was. Death. People
had wizened up to his schemes and now they were joining together
to fight him. We, the human race, would bond together and control
him, make HIM our slave. I smugly stared at him and politely
stood up.

"Mr. Doughnut, I thank you for taking the time to speak with
me. You are truly powerful, but I think you shouldn't
underestimate us low-carbers. We are powerful people, we
have strength of will, we have determination, and most of
all, we have knowledge. We will use these against you. Your
reign of terror and death are coming to an end. We will see
to it."

My words cut through the powdery sweet air like a knife through
bread. His chocolate eyes betrayed fear and he started to cough up
some more jelly. I turned around and started to walk away.

"You won't be able to get rid of me that easy, Mrs. Rogers! I'm
everywhere, supported by everyone! Even your own doctors love me!
You can't be rid of me!"

I smiled to myself and kept walking away from that menace.
I was done with Mr. Doughnut, but more importantly, I was
done with sugar. Now to spread the word...

Due to popular demand, we have added more exciting bakery
treats ready to ship to your front door!

Come visit us today at the Low Carb Connoisseur today for the
best selection and best prices!
Low Carb for Life with the Low Carb Connoisseur!

Market Report

I was in the grocery store one day when...

Gee, it sure seems a lot of my columns start like that.
Just goes to show you that a trip to the grocery is
the great equalizer. We all have to go there. If you're
on a low-carb diet, a low-fat diet, a low-cal diet, you're
vegetarian, all-organic, any combination, or no diet at
all, you still wind up in the same big building pushing
the same clunky metal carts!

Of course, we low-carbers are still pretty under represented
in the specialty products department (hence the need to often
shop online), but most of the bigger chains have at least an
Atkins products area. Our local Kroger even carries Atkins
Ready-to-Drink shakes. (I love those!)

Ok, back to my point...

It's a late Friday night, I'm tired after a long day at work,
and I'm running in with a "honey-get" list. The list is made
up of your basic essentials for the kitchen of a family of
low-carbers. Cream, eggs, hamburger, cheese, bacon, etc.
You know — the "staples" of a low carb diet.

The parking lot is crowded and I wince thinking about fighting
the people and the checkout lines. As I enter through the first
set of doors (where the aforementioned carts are kept), the
interior walls are lined with portable shelving stacked high
with Easter candy. The sheer mass of sugar is staggering. I
haven't even officially entered the store yet. It's as if to
say, "Welcome to our store. We have what we know you want..."

Just through the glass doors I can see tables set up and lined
with donuts, pastries, cookies, and other bakery "specials".

Once inside, I navigate my cart toward the center of the store
thinking it will be "shorter" to cut through the middle on my
way to the back. Uh-oh... I chose poorly. In my haste I didn't
realize I'd entered the realm of Cap'n Crunch and Count Chocula.
The aisle is packed. People to the right of me fighting for
the box of Sugar Smacks while their child lunges out of his
cart seat for Lucky Charms. I wonder why the store is this
crowded on a Friday night... Eventually I make my way past
the mélange and find myself at the back of the grocery — in
front of bacon, sausage, and sliced ham. I look around me. No
crowd. No one. It's just me back there. The nearest group
is huddled further down at the Lunchables display and a child
whines for the one with the "good" cookies. As I proceed through
the store, filling my cart with list items, I keep to the outer
perimeter — the place where processed foods don't show their
faces. The areas where fresh meats sit in cases, leafy produce
remains lonely, and cartons of cream go unnoticed. But the aisles
are still packed. As I drift past frozen foods, a man is putting
Cool Whip and Mrs. Smith's pie in his cart. In dry goods there's
some sale on Rice-a-Roni and the stock boy is getting new boxes
out and into the display, and in the candy/holiday aisle, chocolate
bunnies and marshmallow peeps seem to be leaping from the shelves
as if they were the real thing. I move my cart forward toward eggs,
completing my "honey-get" list.

Why do I feel like as I walked out I should have been wearing a
shirt that said, "I survived Kroger's and all I got was this crummy
T-Shirt"? After all, I did just navigate a minefield, didn't I?

Atkins Ready to Drink Shakes ($2.59), Steel's Jams ($5.75),
O' So Lo Muffins ($4.99), Ross Chocolate Bars ($1.65)
No matter what your low carb needs, The Low Carb Dieter's Page
is the place for you - designed with the PRACTICAL low carb
dieter in mind.

If you've been missing biscuits or pizza (real biscuits with
only 3g of carbohydrate), The Low Carb Chef's Bake Mix and Pizza
Kits can't be beat! Our bake mix can be used for biscuits,
pancakes, breading for chicken - you name it.
A LARGE 1 1/2 pound bag is only $7.99.
The Pizza Kits include 4 kits for only $16.95 ($4.23/pizza).
No fancy packaging, just savings passed along to you.

We've gotten numerous requests for a batch of super
low carb recipes that are suitable for Atkins' induction
level. We expect the flurry of new subscriptions coincides
with new dieters, so here are some favorites — all under
3 carb grams per serving.Very Low Carb Cheese Muffins

3 egg yolks

2 Tablespoons grated sharp cheddar cheese

1 Tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons water

3 Tablespoons soy powder, sifted *

3 egg whites

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

few grains of salt

Preheat oven to 350°F. and lightly butter non-stick
muffin tins. Cover and blend egg yolks, cheeses,
and water in blender at medium speed for 10 seconds.
Scrape down sides of blender with a rubber spatula.
Add sifted soy powder, cover, and blend for 10 seconds.
Scrape down sides of blender again and blend at high
speed for 20 seconds or until completely blended. Beat
egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt until stiff
peaks form.

Carefully fold in half of egg yolk/cheese mixture with
rubber spatula so as not to break down stiff egg whites.
Carefully fold in remaining egg yolk/cheese mixture.
Half fill muffin pans with batter. Bake 45 minutes at
350°F or until golden brown and muffins pull away from
sides of pan. Serve piping hot.

* Soy powder differs from soy flour in that it's much
finer and makes a more delicate muffin. If you cannot
tolerate soy, use sifted oat flour and add 1 carb per
muffin to total.

Makes 12 muffins — Less than 1/2 carb per muffin (using
soy powder.)

Gnocchi alla Florentine

1 pound fresh young spinach

1 pound ricotta cheese

1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese

1 egg, well beaten

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

salt and freshly ground pepper

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup coarsely grated or shredded parmesan cheese

Carefully wash and remove stems from spinach, saving
only perfect leaves. Tear each leaf into bite-size
pieces. Cover and cook spinach over high heat until
steam appears. Reduce heat and simmer over very low
heat for 5 minutes. Thoroughly drain and press out
as much liquid as possible. Mix ricotta cheese, 3/4
cup of parmesan cheese, egg, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Add cooked spinach and blend well. Shape mixture into
1-inch balls and roll each in remaining finely grated
parmesan cheese. Refrigerate until WELL chilled.
(Don't skip this step!)

Slip several gnocchi at a time into simmering NOT
BOILING water into a large skillet. Within a minute,
when they float to the surface, carefully transfer
them with a slotted spoon to a buttered shallow
ovenproof dish. Pour some melted butter over all
gnocchi and sprinkle each dumpling with coarseley
grated parmesan. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Serves 8 — 3 carb grams per serving.

Classic Quiche Lorraine

7 slices crisp bacon, diced

1/4 cup minced white or yellow onions

1 teaspoon chopped chives

1 cup diced Gruyère cheese

1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

4 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups cream

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

Sauté bacon until crisp. Drain and set aside. Pour off all
but 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings and sauté onions until
tender. Sprinkle bacon, onions, chives, and cheeses evenly
over bottom of non-stick pie pan (or spray with PAM.) Combine
eggs, cream, nutmeg, cayenne, salt, and pepper and strain
over all.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake quiche in lower third of oven for
25 to 30 minutes or until puffed and browned. A knife stuck
into center should come out clean. Serve piping hot as an
appetizer or a main course.

Well, it seems the media never fails to provide me with
something from which to create a new "rant". And they've
just done it again. I open my paper to an article entitled,
"American Heart Association Warns Against High Protein Diets!"

My eyes drift to the passage, "...critics of high-protein
diets acknowledge that people do indeed lose weight, at least
temporarily, and as a result, cholesterol does drop — again,
temporarily..."

What a skewed perception they have of this way of life.
Or... DO they? Okay, so as I read these things that little
conspiracy theorist raises its little low-carb head. But
more about that later...

The article completely centers on cholesterol. Yes, that old
chestnut — the cholesterol scare. It's the first thing I
hear in the workplace or on trips when people hear I'm on the
low-carb diet. I get comments like, "Aren't you worried about
your cholesterol?" You can bet that person knows their latest
cholesterol numbers better than they know their own phone
number. It's a national obsession...

Did you know there's an entire website devoted to it?
(Cholesterol.com of course.) They applaud Dean Ornish and
Pritikin plans for keeping fat intake below 10% of calories.
The amount of sugar and flour these guys have you eating
will assure that the drugs they push on the site (like
Lipitor, Zocor, etc) will continue to make a fortune.

Is it at all interesting that a hundred years ago no one ever
heard of cholesterol, they all ate breakfasts of several eggs
fried in a big cast iron skillet filled with bacon or sausage
grease from the other component of their feast, and with it came
a big cold glass of WHOLE milk (or coffee with CREAM), yet heart
disease was practically unknown?

A century later, Americans consume nearly a pound a day of
sugar, corn syrup and refined (stripped of nutrients) grains.
For teenagers, the numbers are far higher. We eat huge amounts
of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. And heart disease has
become a killer of epidemic proportions.

So, let's take a good hard look at cholesterol and maybe, just
maybe, we can put a few myths to bed.
First, for those who are uncertain about what it all means, a
quick primer:

Cholesterol is a waxy substance (a fat-like alcohol) produced
naturally by the body and is vital for normal healthy
functioning. Your body uses it for making sex and adrenal
hormones, cell walls, and nerve sheaths. About 85% of all
cholesterol in your body is manufactured BY your body (in your
liver and in the cells of your small intestine) and the other
15% generally comes from your diet. The body regulates a
general balance and when your diet lacks cholesterol, the body
makes more. When you have an abundance in your diet, the body
is free to make less. But make not mistake about it — your
dietary intake of cholesterol DOES NOT AFFECT YOUR SERUM
CHOLESTEROL LEVELS. Now, re-read that last sentence — it's
important. We're not saying what you eat doesn't affect
cholesterol levels — it does. We're saying the CHOLESTEROL
in your food doesn't affect your cholesterol levels in your
blood. What DOES cause elevated cholesterol levels is the
presence of high amounts of refined carbohydrates in the diet.

Cholesterol is transported through the blood by two types of
carriers: high density lipo-proteins (HDL) and low density
lipoproteins (LDL). LDL is known as the 'bad' cholesterol. It
has a low proportion of protein and carries most of the
cholesterol in the bloodstream. HDL, conversely is the 'good'
cholesterol, it has a high proportion of protein and carries
cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver were it is
then processed or removed. It acts as the body's natural
counterbalance to LDL, so true cholesterol levels must be
measured as a comparison between HDL and LDL levels — known
as a "ratio".

Even more important, are the elements many people least
understand — triglycerides. High triglycerides have been
convincingly shown to be an independent risk factor for heart
disease — as much a factor as obesity, smoking, or high
blood pressure. The higher your triglycerides, the greater
your risk for heart attack. In large amounts, triglycerides
actually thicken your blood and keep it from flowing easily
through your blood vessels. Clots can be formed and blockage
occurs. But how often do you hear that your neighbor's heart
attack was due to high triglycerides or sugar in his diet?
Nope, you'll hear about all the fat and cholesterol he ate.

So why the cholesterol hype? Time for my little conspiracy
theorist to come out and play...

Let's look at marketing... let's follow the money. The first
thing of note: In the 1950's and 60's the Framingham Heart
Study (you've heard us reference this before) first identified
high levels of cholesterol as a risk factor in the cause of
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) — at least it was supposed to show
that. That's what it was funded to show (by the grain
manufacturers.) The study was later published abbreviated and
out of context to prove their nutritional points (which could
not actually BE proven.) Problem is, for the next 30 years, the
results could never be duplicated — of course, since they were
never borne out to begin with. It wasn't until 1995 that the
first study (funded by the carb-pushers) showed that lowering
blood cholesterol levels improved chances of surviving a
heart attack and of avoiding them. So riddle me this, then...
Why is it that since the 1970's, drug companies have been
pouring millions of dollars into developing cholesterol lowering
drugs... drugs they did not yet know there was a need for?

The news hits full force and the media goes into a frenzy. It
goes global. The British Heart Foundation produced a video in
about the "Cholesterol Soaked Egg" urging us "...if you must
use eggs, only use the white because the yolk is a killer"

That is no longer food on your plate — it is death. Thank God
for men and women in white coats who put smears of butter under
electron microscopes in order to form a more perfect Union.
That butter has no secrets; it is naked before science.

How did the early people survive without all of our industrial
nutritionism? I suppose they got hungry and then found something
to eat. Perhaps a wild boar hunted and prepared for the family.
Perhaps a gathering of blueberries. Surely not a fat-free
Entenmann's... So, did they all die and disappear from their
dietary folly? Did the human race extinguish itself in a soufflé
of ignorance? I don't think so.

Television tells us cholesterol will make sludge in our
arteries. Eggs and tasty butter, after all these years of being
our friends, have finally become devils.

And suddenly the shelves from our local grocery are screaming
the "truth" at us:

Cholesterol Free!

Fat Free!

Heart Smart!

Low in Saturated Fat!

Less Death!

But, does cholesterol deserve all of this attention? Why is
cholesterol such a hot item?

Follow that dollar. Apparently fear loosens dimes and quarters
about as well as anything. If cholesterol could be known as a
good thing, how could Parkay charge more for their margarine?
Hmmm.. what they need is a way to raise the price!

How about a cholesterol scare? Hey, then they can take out
something and charge more. Wait! Better yet, they don't HAVE
to take out anything. Cholesterol-free margarine has always
been cholesterol-free — cholesterol comes from animal products.
Sure it's full of deadly trans-fats so it can be made dirt-cheap,
but it has NO cholesterol!

Let's face it — it has nothing to do with health and everything
to do with nickels and dimes.

Love Chocolate and Raspberry Jam?
LOVE DOUGHNUTS?

Synergy Diet is
proud to offer you these low carb, low fat, low calorie taste treats. Each donut
is topped with delicious, carbohydrate free chocolate and
filled with Splenda sweetened raspberry jam! Perfect for
breakfast or a mid afternoon snack. Use the coupon code
"bunny" to get $5 off your order of $50 or more before
April 30th.

Also, check out the delicious, new Better Mini Chocolate
Covered Doughnuts only available at Synergy Diet
and 78% fewer carbohydrates than the leading brand.
Log on
today or call toll free 1-877-877-1558. All orders shipped right to your door.

Dear Lora,
I've lost 80 pounds low-carbing and am now at a normal weight.
I've recently moved back to the town where my parents live, and
because my mother's quite overweight, I have begun helping her
on this low-carb path. None of this is the problem.

What's stressing me out is my new boyfriend. He's never known
me overweight (though he knows I lost a lot.) Lately, when we
are out around people, watching TV, or anywhere we come into
contact with overweight folks, he makes stupid jokes or laughs
at their laziness. This makes me VERY uncomfortable, and it
escalated when he made a comment about my Mom (not in her presence,
but it was still awful.) I am at a loss as to what to say to
make him see this hurts me and that it's bigotry. Help!

Thanks,
Laren Masters

Dear Laren —

Hurtful comments about overweight people are a pet peeve of mine,
as you might imagine. Sadly, this attitude is so prevalent, that
even intelligent and considerate people regularly make
thoughtless remarks about other people's weight — it appears to
be the last acceptable prejudice.

Why don't you respond to his unkind remarks with "Please don't
say things like that. You know my mother is obese, and she's the
furthest thing from lazy. No one wants her to lose weight more
than she does — she just has a health problem called insulin
resistance. You wouldn't make fun of someone who has cancer,
would you?"

Only the biggest jerk would argue with you there. The problem is,
your boyfriend has the markings of a really big jerk. To test
whether he's salvageable, make him watch, "What's Eating Gilbert
Grape?" If Johnny Depp doesn't inspire a good-guy impulse in
your boyfriend, beware and be gone.

Thanks for all your letters, everyone! I get hundreds of
letters each week and try to answer as many as I can.

This month at the Low Carb Nexus
we have introduced BOX PRICING on
our chocolate bars, such as Pure DeLite, Carbolite, and Darrell Lea.
Also, if you order on the Web via our Secure Shopping Cart system,
scroll down the page on the screen that says, "Low Carb Nexus
Checkout Sheet" as you are ordering, and locate the line "Message
on Package" (right above the Red Bar that says "Billing Address")
and type the word "LUXURY"... if you do, we will include a FREE
sample of our latest sugar free, carb free candy product!

Thanks for reading! Keep your suggestions and questions
coming in — we always want to hear from you! Remember, we
can't address every request and query, but the ones we hear
about the most or offer the greater potential to help others
will surely make their way here.

Contents Copyright (c) 2001 Low Carb Luxury. All rights reserved.
http://www.lowcarbluxury.com E-mail: newsdesk@lowcarbluxury.com.
Please do not reprint or republish this newsletter elsewhere. You
may share the link with low-carb friends, but we encourage you to have
them sign up for their own free subscription.